Window shade control device



vAug.9,1938. MWHENDRICH 2,126,013

W INDOW SHADE CONTROL DEVICE Filed NOV. 9, 1957 INVENTOR 771w: Wfi'erzdrc/z BY 1 I I ADRNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1938 omen sr r cr es 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in window-shade control devices, and particularly to a means by which'the annoying flapping of a window shade and the inadvertent unwinding of the spring of the shade roller will be prevented.

A raised window'shade is often a source of considerable annoyance, due to the fact that the same, under the impulse of a slight breeze entering through an open window, will repeatedly flap against the window or frame causing a noise. Another irritating tendency of a shade is the facility by which the pull cord slips from the hand when the shade is being raised or lowered thus permitting the shade to fly rapidly upward and rotateabout the roller with a flapping noise suflicient to awaken sleepers. This action is not only annoying due to the noise created but it also causes the spring of the shade roller to become unwound necessitating the removal of the shade from its supporting'brackets, the winding of the spring and the repositioning of the shade in the brackets.

The object of the invention therefore, is to provide a simple, efficient device which will so control the operation of the shade as to prevent the unwinding of the roller spring in the manner just mentioned, and also prevent the shade from flapping when in its raised position.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a window frame and a part of the shade showing my improved control device, with the shade in partly lowered position; Fig. 2 is a View of the same structure showing the shade raised and showing the action of the control device; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure, showing a fixed stop member secured to the window frame for limiting the movement of shade, and Fig. 4 isa perspective view of said fixed stop member detached from the window frame.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, I indicates one of the side members of a window frame, the same connecting with the opposite side member by means of the top frame member 2. Mounted between the side members of the frame, in the conventional shadesupporting brackets, is the shade roller 3 of usual construction, and carrying the shade 4 rolled up or raised by the internal spring within the roller.

The lower end of the shade is hemmed at 4 to provide the lengthy pocket containing the wooden pull bar 5. A tubular rivet 6 passes through the hem d and pull bar 5, thus holding the bar against longitudinal displacement and providing a passage through the same to receive the pull cord 1 which hangs down in the conventional manner to permit manipulation of the shade. The parts thus far described are well known in window shade construction and installation and form no part of this invention.

Secured at the lower end of the shade and having its end portion extending away from the outer face of the same (or on that side which faces the street) is a stop member consisting of a hook formed with a laterally extending arm portion 22 and. a threaded shank 23 which extends upwardly into the pull bar and is adjustable therein to bring the arm portion 22 closer or further away from the lower edge of the pull bar as required by various installations.

In operation, the shade is raised in the conventional way, namely, by starting the shade upwardly by a pull on the string and permitting the spring to raise the shade. When the upward limit of raising movement of the shade is reached, the laterally extending arm portion 22 will impinge against the part I of frame member 2, the raising movement of the shade being in such case restricted. If the spring in the shade roller is kept under the required tension, the tendency of the roller to wind in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 will hold the shade at its limit of upward movement, as shown in Fig. 2, and any flapping action of the shade under the impulse of a breeze will be prevented. The stop member will act to positively prevent the rotative flapping action of the shade should the pull cord accidentally slip out of the hand, as it often does, when raising or lowering the shade.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 a fixed stop is employed on the window frame. Secured to the underface of the top member 2 of the window frame in verticalalignment with the stop member on the shade is a fixed stop consisting of a horizontally disposed attaching plate portion i8, formed with a hole 119 through which a screw 20 may be passed to enter into the window frame member 2. To prevent rotative movement of this fiixed stop member, the end of the plate portion i8 is formed with a prong or tooth 29 penetrating the wood of the window frame 2, as shown in Fig. 6. The stop member is formed with a downwardly extending, or vertical, plate 2| which 00- cupies the position shown in Fig. 6 and when the shade is raised to its upper limit, said plate 2| will act as an abutment to engage with the projecting arm portion 22 and thereby limit the raising movement of the shade. member secured on the frame can be used when the distance between the window shade and the window frame is too great to permit the installation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Through the arrangement described, an effective control means for window shades is provided. If the shade is being raised or lowered and the cord is inadvertently pulled out of the fingers under the impulse of the shade spring, the

raising movement of the shade will be halted by the impingement of the laterally projecting portion on the stop member carried by the lower end of the shade, against either the window frame or against a fixed stop carried thereby. The shade cannot thus rotate around and around with theshade roller to cause the annoying flapping of the shade and the resultant unwinding of the spring, which require the removal of, the shade.

and the spring re-winding. Furthermore, the use of a control means as herein described will hold the shade in its uppermost position under spring.

pull and the flapping of the shade under the impudse ofa breeze with the noise-resulting therefromwill be eliminated.

- What-Iclaim is:

1. 11 device of the character described comprising, a window shade having a pull bar, a stop member secured to said bar, said stop member having a rigid lug portion extending downwardly below the lower edge of the bar and formed with a laterally extending lug portion at its lower end for contact with portion of the window frame in which the shade is mounted when the shade is fully raised.

2. A device of the character described in claim 1 with the laterally-extending lug portion adjustable to and from the lower edge of the pull bar.

3. A device of the character described in claim 1 with the stop member consisting of an L-shaped member threaded into the lower end of the pull bar and adjustable therein to bring the lateral lug portion to or from the lower edge of the pull bar.

4. A device as provided for in claim 1 and including a fixed stop in the form of an angular member secured to the window frame and providing a downwardly extending flange portion, the lower edge of. which engages the lug portion of the stopmember when the shade is raised.

MAX W. HENDRICH. 

